Abstract

Biologic scaffolds derived from mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM) have been extensively used in pre-clinical and clinical applications to promote constructive tissue remodeling in a number of anatomic locations. The clinical success of these technologies depends on a number of factors including the species and tissues from which they are derived, the efficacy of the decellularization process, and post-processing modifications such as crosslinking and solubilization, among others. The ECM is produced by the resident cells of every tissue and hence, it is thought to constitute the ideal substrate for each unique cell population. It is therefore logical to assume that a substrate composed of site-specific ECM would be favorable for clinical use in homologous anatomic locations. However, the advantages of using site-specific (homologous) ECM scaffolds in clinical applications is still a matter of debate. Part of the difficulty in addressing this issue arises from the fact that most studies have investigated the application of ECM-derived scaffolds in either homologous or non-homologous locations independently, but they have rarely been directly compared in properly designed studies. The present dissertation shows the development of ECM-based biomaterials derived from cardiac and esophageal tissues. The decellularized scaffolds are compliant with decellularization standards and are then used to evaluate the tissue specific effects of homologous ECM in vitro and in a preclinical models of cardiac and esophageal repair.